And she was smiling at him. Not a superior smile, not a taunting one - just smiling at him.
"What you need," she said, "is contact with Kimonians. A chance to get to know your way around. An opportunity to appreciate our point of view and get the hang of how we do things."
"That sounds all right," said Bishop. "How do I go about it?"
"There have been instances," said the girl, "when Earth people sold their services as companions."
"I don't think I'd care much for that. It sounds... well, like babysitting or reading to old ladies or..."
"Can you play an instrument or sing?"
Bishop shook his head.
"Paint? Draw? Dance?"
He couldn't do any of them.
"Box, perhaps," she said. "Physical combat. That is popular at times, if it's not overdone."